LONDON - 9 April 2008 - 190 words
Anthony Minghella Memorial Mass
Gordon Brown, Jude Law and Matt Damon were among those who attended the Memorial Mass for film director Anthony Minghella on 5 April, at Thomas More Catholic Church in Swiss Cottage, near his home in Hampstead. Minghella, aged 54, who directed the films 'The English Patient', 'Truly, Madly, Deeply' and 'The Talented Mr Ripley', died last month in hospital after suffering a haemorrhage following surgery for cancer of the tonsils and neck.
Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster George Stack attended the Memorial Mass on behalf of Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, who has known the Minghella family for a number of years.
Also present was the Anglican Bishop of Botswana who spoke at the end of the Mass. Anthony Minghella had recently worked in Botswana filming the BBC's Easter blockbuster 'The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.'
The Mass was celebrated by Fr Gerard Sheenan, Parish Priest of St Thomas More Church, who referring to St Paul, said in his homily: "St Paul would have said, "fame; well, ok. But be ambitious for something even higher. There is something that is more powerful than fame; be ambitious for love: it is a much better way." Anthony tried to live that better way in practice, but he had a keen understanding and compassion for those who find the road to true love so hard to find, or so tortuous to follow. Still, no matter how challenging, there is no other journey in life so important."
Fr Sheenan, acknowledging the presence of well known personalities at the Memorial Mass, said: "Many of you have experienced Anthony's choice of you as someone he loved. Allow that love to endure through your choices today and always."
Source: Catholic Media Office
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